Photo: Ihop4u2 · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Huntington faces less hazard damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Huntington gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #41 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%), then hurricanes (18%). Flood insurance has paid 411 claims here since 1978.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Huntington’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Huntington faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Earthquakes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Huntington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Huntington, and Huntington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 4%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ #41 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Huntington’s residents live in 55 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Huntington has less expected damage per building than 95% of New York towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Huntington has lower expected damage per building than 99% (#5 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $38.6M, is the 303th largest of those 400.
Does Huntington flood? Yes: 411 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Huntington, from FEMA’s records: 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy60 claims · $4.3M
- The December Storm - nor’easter41 claims · $867K
Huntington isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Suffolk County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Huntington
Disasters that paid out in Huntington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Huntington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$31K to the Town of Huntington for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida184 households applied for aid$278K aid approved$395K to the Town of Huntington for repairs15 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$10.0M to the Town of Huntington for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$914K to the Town of Huntington for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy633 households applied for aid$147K aid approved$25.5M to the Town of Huntington for repairs60 flood claims paid for it, $4.3M
- 2011Hurricane Irene59 households applied for aid$86K aid approved$3.7M to the Town of Huntington for repairs26 flood claims paid for it, $406K
Show all 12
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$17K to the Town of Huntington for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$216K to the Town of Huntington for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding Assoc W Td Ida and Nor’easter$18K to the Town of Huntington for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$80K to the Town of Huntington for repairs14 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$559K to the Town of Huntington for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$173K to the Town of Huntington for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Suffolk County has had 26 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Huntington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Huntington archive →Huntington and its neighbors
Huntington is 3rd of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lloyd Harbor | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Smithtown | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 225 |
| Huntington | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 411 |
| Laurel Hollow | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Oyster Bay | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 4,654 |
| Babylon | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 4,003 |
| Dix Hills | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Melville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Deer Park | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Cold Spring Harbor | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| East Northport | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Huntington faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Huntington
Is Huntington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Huntington has lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #41 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%) and hurricanes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Huntington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 411 claims in Huntington since 1978, $7.8M in all, or 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 45 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (60).
Is Huntington in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Suffolk County, 66% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 5.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Huntington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Huntington’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Huntington?
By FEMA money that reached Huntington, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 633 households applied for aid, $147K approved, and $25.5M to the Town of Huntington for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 60 paid, $4.3M.
Is Huntington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Huntington’s rate for it is lower than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Huntington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Huntington’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.